Welcome to The Psychology Podcast with Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, where we give you insights into the mind, brain, behavior and creativity. Each episode we’ll feature a guest who will stimulate your mind, and give you a greater understanding of your self, others, and the world we live in. Hopefully, we’ll also provide a glimpse into human possibility! Thanks for listening and enjoy the podcast.

Melissa Dahl is a senior editor covering health and psychology for New York's The Cut. In 2014, she cofounded New York’s popular social science site, Science of Us. Her work has appeared in Elle, Parents, and TODAY.com. Her new book, Cringeworthy, is her first book.

In our conversation, Melissa shares with us:

- How awkwardness comes from self-consciousness and uncertainty

- How doing improv can help you become less awkward

- How we create more drama with ourselves than necessary

- What we can do to become more one with our awkwardness

- Why the “irreconcilable gap” can lead to awkwardness

- How to find the “growing edge” and challenge yourself to have more awkward conversations

This episode may be the most awkward episode of The Psychology Podcast yet (and that’s saying a lot!). So you won’t want to miss it! :)